Following decades of closure, the Gallery of Frescoes at the Istituto degli Innocenti has reopened to the public, becoming part of the permanent museum itinerary of the Museo degli Innocenti. Facing onto piazza della Santissima Annunziata, the museum recounts the history of the institute that dates to 1419, founded to look after children who had been left without parents. The spaces of the Gallery of Frescoes will have free entry from 4-9pm on May 22, with access from the bookshop, to mark the inauguration.
Galleria degli Affreschi
Located along the portico of the Men’s Courtyard, the internal quadrilateral has served various functions over the centuries, including administrative activities. Restored to public view, the gallery hosts 27 sinopias and detached frescoes, including two particularly significant groups consisting of the pictorial cycle depicting episodes from the Old Testament from the mid-late 16th century by Alessandro Allori and his workshop and two early 15th-century mural paintings by Lorenzo Monaco. The works span from approximately the 13th-18th centuries and had originally been kept at the Cenacolo di San Salvatore in Ognissanti before being entrusted to the Institute following the devastating flood in November, 1966. The provenance of the detached frescoes includes locations such as Santa Maria degli Angeli, Santa Maria Nuova, and the Convento delle Oblate.
Now made fully accessible, the exhibition route follows a mainly chronological and thematic order, favouring a close-up view of the works to enable greater appreciation for the techniques used, both in the creation of the frescoes themselves and their restoration. Informative panels allow for a deeper understanding, integrated with two new reproductions in braille, thus extending the tactile tour route for those with visual impairments. A new guide with easy reading also facilitates accessibility, with renewed signage for the entire museum route.
Chapel of the Nuns

In addition to the frescoes, visitors can now also see the Chapel of the Nuns, with its unique view of the Church of Santa Maria degli Innocenti through a small window. The oratory, commonly referred to as the Cappellina (the Little Chapel) or Nun’s Chapel, was built in 1955 after the inner chapel, located near the Women’s Courtyard, became a childcare classroom. The oratory was consecrated on December 1, 1956, and was dedicated to the Holy Crucifix, presumably due to the presence of a 16th-century wooden crucifix above the altar. The space houses two remarkable works by Lorenzo Monaco.
The Prior’s Rooms

In 1445, three rooms were constructed as living quarters for the Prior, leading to the first architectural modification of Brunelleschi’s layout, resulting in the elevation of the body of the façade. The vestibule between the Prior’s chamber and study, located above the entrance, was then embellished in 1612 with a fresco of the Dispute of St. Catherine of Alexandria, painted by Bernardo Barbatelli, known as Bernardino Poccetti (1553-1613). The rooms have now been renovated and adapted for cultural activities, including a screening room and conference and exhibition space.
Accessibility and education
The interventions carried out included the installation of a new elevator, with better access for those with disabilities, and a system of ramps within the gallery to make it fully visitable. New accessible bathrooms were also created, as well as air conditioning systems, humidity control for the exhibited works, lighting, and related construction works.
The works also offered the opportunity for research, with a collaboration from the SAGAS Department of the University of Florence in the creation of a web platform that will make in-depth content available.
The museum has a newly launched website in Italian and English, as well as a new Instagram page dedicated to educating about the museum’s history and collections.
The inauguration on May 20, 2025, was attended by Maria Grazia Giuffrida, president of the Istituto degli Innocenti, Eugenio Giani, president of the Tuscany Region, Sara Funaro, mayor of Florence, Simona Pasquinucci, head of the curatorial division of the Uffizi Galleries and Sabrina Breschi, general director of the Istituto degli Innocenti.